
West Ham plot double summer swoop for Phil Jones and Nemanja Matic
West Ham are exploring the possibility of signing Manchester United outcasts Phil Jones and Nemanja Matic in the summer transfer window.
According to Eurosport, the Hammers are considering getting the United duo on the cheap as the club are expected to part ways with them in the summer.
Matic has fallen in the pecking order and is now only seen as a backup to Scott McTominay and Fred. When Paul Pogba is fit, he is preferred over all the midfielders, reducing the Serbian’s minutes even further.
Also, with the club likely to sign a defensive midfielder, he is seen as the most expendable part of the squad, given his age, and the Hammers may want to capitalise on that uncertainty.
Jones, on the other hand, has had rotten luck with injuries for a number of seasons, so much so that he hasn’t played a single minute of competitive football this term.
The 29-year-old made only two league appearances last season, and it is clear that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not rate the player too highly.
Can’t be real
West Ham are challenging for the top four with three games to go, and should not be a dumping ground for teams around them.
While Matic could prove to be an economical option in case Declan Rice leaves, his expected wages of £120k-a-week are astronomical for a player who is clearly past his best.
Jones, on the other hand, has suffered from numerous injuries, and even when fit he is not an upgrade on Issa Diop or Craig Dawson.
He is also likely to demand high wages, something that the club are in no position to shell out.
The only business we must do with Manchester United, and what Eurosport suggests we’re already doing, is to complete Jesse Lingard’s permanent transfer.
The England international has been pivotal in our quest for Champions League football and with a new striker at the club next season, who knows what could happen.
In other West Ham news, ‘Lazy’ – Former Hammers star slams club as shock transfer links reported
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Hammers and more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.